Horse-detacher



(No Model.) I

- B. W. SPARKS.

Horse Detacher.

No. 238,814. Patented March 15,1881.

he /Zion UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN W. SPARKS, OF MGMINNVILLE, TENNESSEE.

HORSE-DETACHER.

*SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters I-atent No. 238,814, dated March15,, 1881.

Application filed May 19, 1880.

.To all whom it may concern:

of McMinnville,Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement inl/Vhiffletrees, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in detaching devices for horses asapplied to whiftletrees.

It consists, first, of a whiffletree having a detaching-rod providedwith a crank, and a spring provided with a stop or catch on its endoutside to form a positive hold to the said rod when the said crank ispassed over it.

It consists, also, in combining with a whiffletree and detaching-rodcertain plates pivoted to said rod with a segmental slot and hookextending therefrom, the purpose of which is to prevent a back movementof the traces when in position for draft.

In my drawings, Figurel is an elevation or edge view of a single-tree,showing my attachment. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig.3 is an end view of the single-tree and adjustable plate and hooksecured to its end. Fig. 4 is a plan or top view, showing thesingle-tree with the rod attachment and guides for traces. Fig. 5 istransverse section on line y y, Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a top view of thewhiftletree, showing more clearly the operation of the plate F withreference to the rod B.

Similar reference letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a whiffletree provided with arod, B, running longitudinally in its rear and loosely secured or hingedthereto by loops which project from a center band or bands, 0. The rod Bat its center is bentin the formof a crank, B, curved to conform to thewhiffletree to which it is attached to the under side of thewhiffletree,

adapted to catch the crank B and hold the rod B with its end hooks in adirection rearward.

(No model.)

To the crank B is secured, by a metal loop, the band or strap 0, whichextends upward within easy reach of the driver ofthe vehicle, by whichthe spring E is unlocked with a jerk and the rod rotated about ninetydegrees to release the traces or tugs.

On the ends of the whiftletree (see Figs. 1 and 3) are plates F withbooks attached, secured to said whiffletree by rivets or headed nailswhich pass through segmental slots a. This device is for the purpose ofpreventing the traces from slipping from their hooks backward. Theseplates when moved about the rod B, as an axis, sliding under the headsof the nails which secure them may be adjusted to allow the release ofthe traces. The plates 11, fixed to the end of the whiffletree, (seeFig. 4,) are for guiding and holding the traces against a lateralmovement when the horse is moving forward or backward.

, It frequently happens that when the whiffletree is weakened byconstant use it is desira: ble that it be reversed to bring the weakerside next to the draft. Under such circumstances the strain would comeupon the rod B in its entire length together with the reversedwhiffietree, and in order that the detaching device be still effective Imake the spring reversible to adapt it to such an emergency.

I am aware of the Patent No. 188,956, to Roberts, in which is shown aspring which holds the crank of the detaching-rod by frictional bearing,and to such I lay no claim.

Having thus described my invention, I elaiml. The combination of thewhiffletree A, detaching-rod B, provided with crank B, and spring E,provided with a stop or hook, h, on

its end outside, to form a positive hold to the said rod B when thecrank B is passed over it, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the whiftletree A and detaching-rod B, the platesF, pivoted to said rod and provided with segmental slots at, as and forthe purpose set forth.

DR. BENJAMIN WILLIAM SPARKS.

Witnesses:

J. J, MEADOWS, J. M. CUNNINGHAM.

